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Expected Kansas winter wheat production up 26 percentKansas The 2008 Kansas wheat crop is forecast at 357.2 million bushels as of May 1. The current forecast is up 26 percent from the 2007 crop. This year's crop is expected to be harvested from 9.4 million acres, up 800,000 acres from a year ago. Yield per harvested acre is expected to average 38 bushels, up from 33 bushels last year. Seeding of wheat acres began early in September and progressed behind average throughout the fall. Soil moisture was mostly adequate throughout the fall. The major growing areas of the state did not receive a good soaking rain that usually would encourage producers to plant, only light showers were received throughout the fall. Wheat seeding was nearly complete by the first week of November. Topsoil moisture at the end of November was rated 47 percent adequate to surplus while subsoil moisture was rated 55 percent adequate to surplus. Wheat emergence also progressed behind normal throughout the season. By November 25, 96 percent of the crop had emerged. Wheat condition was rated 3 percent excellent, 40 percent good, 42 percent fair, 13 percent poor, and 2 percent very poor by the end of November. The state received rain, freezing rain and snow in December. Precipitation was moderate and scattered throughout the state for the rest of the winter. The state experienced below normal temperatures in December, above normal in January, and normal in February. As of March 9, topsoil moisture was rated 83 percent adequate to surplus, compared to 90 percent last year. As of April 27 only 60 percent of the wheat was jointing compared to 90 percent for the 5-year average. Temperatures have been moderate across the state all spring. The eastern part of the state received scattered showers every week of March and most of the state received precipitation during April with the heaviest amounts in the east. Statewide topsoil moisture ranged from 72 to 90 percent adequate to surplus during March and April. Wheat condition ratings ranged from 34 to 38 percent fair and 41 to 48 percent good to excellent during March and April. U.S. winter wheat production up 17 percent Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.78 billion bushels, up 17 percent from 2007. Expected area for harvest as grain or seed totals 40.2 million acres, up 12 percent from last year. Based on May 1 conditions, the U.S. yield is forecast at 44.3 bushels per acre, up 2.1 bushels from the previous year. 6/2/08 Date: 5/29/08
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